An L-Acoustics K2 sound system powered the recent Toyota Innibos Lowveld National Arts Festival, held in Hoërskool Bergvlam, in the city of Mbombela, South Africa, which welcomed 78,800 attendees across a 9,500sqm area. The country’s premier Afrikaans arts festival featured eight theatre productions, ten music and lifestyle shows, and performances by over 35 of South Africa’s top artists.
Technical supplier MGG Productions deployed its newly acquired L-Acoustics K2 sound system, marking a significant milestone as the company celebrates its 25th anniversary year. MGG obtained its K2 system through L-Acoustics certified provider DWR Distribution.
For this year’s festival, MGG faced the complex challenge of delivering audio coverage across the venue’s challenging layout at Hoërskool Bergvlam, in the city of Mbombela.
The system design phase leveraged L-Acoustics Soundvision software for venue modelling and coverage optimisation. Dean Parker, head of audio, MGG, and his team imported the venue layout and stage configuration, then used the software’s prediction capabilities to address the complex acoustic challenges. The software proved valuable for assigning amplifiers, loading FIR filters, and making real-time adjustments.
MGG deployed a comprehensive L-Acoustics sound system featuring L/R hangs of 12 K2 enclosures with three Kara II down-fill speakers per side. Behind the main arrays, ten SB18 subwoofers were flown in two side-by-side hangs of five units each. Out-fill coverage was provided by nine V-DOSC enclosures per side with three dV-DOSC down-fill units, supplied by Gearhouse South Africa.
The low-frequency foundation consisted of a delay arc of 24 KS28 subwoofers in 12 stacks of two units. Three delay towers of Kara II – configured with six, six, and nine enclosures respectively – was designed to ensure consistent coverage throughout the expansive audience area.
The system featured advanced networking capabilities through LS10 switches and P1 processors, providing full Milan-AVB redundancy. This network-based approach required only power and network connections for each amplifier location, eliminating the need for traditional AES/EBU or analogue cabling infrastructure. The integration of SFP modules in the LS10 switches enabled fibre-optic connections to LA-RAK amplified controllers positioned on either side of the stage.
Gunther Muller, project manager, MGG, said: “Expanding the L-Acoustics inventory is an important investment in our future capabilities. The K2 system enhances our ability to serve clients across diverse market sectors whilst maintaining the technical excellence that has defined MGG for 25 years.”
Dean Parker, head of audio, MGG, added: “The venue presents unique acoustic challenges. Despite being situated on a sports field, the stage angle combined with off-axis grandstand, multiple VIP areas and surrounding tents, demanded a sophisticated approach to sound distribution, with complex coverage requirements across the entire audience area.”
